Focus on discrepancy in women’s rights enforcement

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KUWAIT CITY, July 29: A study prepared by the Kuwaiti Society for Human Rights on “Women’s Rights in Kuwait within the framework of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women” states that the Kuwaiti Constitution ensures justice for Kuwaiti women, but the practical reality concerning the application of laws does not reflect this fairness, as many laws do not express the rights of women recognized by the Constitution, reports Al-Rai daily. According to the study, the feminist movement in Kuwait has a historical dimension.

However, forming an organized feminist movement that has collective plans and strategies to enable women to obtain their rights similar to men has not been possible.

It affirmed, “The Constitution meets the international standards in the area of women’s rights, but the practical reality suffers from the legislator’s inability to activate and implement constitutional texts.” The study stressed, “Many of Kuwait’s laws contradict the provisions of the Kuwait Constitution.

This has led to the failure in activating the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Kuwaiti legislation reflect clear discrimination in many rights, such as the right to employment, equality in public duties, the right to equality, the right to work, the right to a nationality, the right to housing, and the right to political participation.”

It stated that the Kuwait Constitution did not mention women’s rights in particular or by name, as the word “women” was not mentioned in all articles of the Kuwait Constitution, due to which women’s rights in Kuwait seem to stay within the general theoretical framework for citizen rights and the rights of individuals and their general freedoms.

The study revealed that rate of women’s presence in various jobs:

■ Minister: 13 percent

■ Undersecretary: 7 percent

■ Assistant undersecretary: 13 percent

■ Director of a body or organization: 19 percent

■ Deputy director of a body or organization: 9 percent

■ Assistant secretary-general: 21 percent

■ Ambassador: 2 percent

■ Member of Fatwa and Legislation Department: 42 percent

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